Payton Sartain Reveals How 9-Month Break from Boyfriend Joe Ross Strengthened Their Relationship in the Long Run

12/02/2024 02:46 PM

Payton Sartain revealed she and Joe Ross got back together around November 2023

Payton Sartain and Joe Ross have been together for several years, but it hasn't been without a few bumps in the road.

During an appearance on Allison Kuch's Sunday Sports Club podcast on Dec. 1, the 30-year-old Note to Self podcast host opened up about her brief breakup from the Milwaukee Brewers pitcher, 31, in late 2022, revealing that they initially split after Ross injured himself and told her he "can't support the life" she wanted.

"I think he thought we were gonna break up for a few months to be honest [but] we ended up not speaking for like 9 months," she explained. "I wanted to make sure if we got back together, it would be because we're getting married. I needed to go through the process of mourning him not being in that world anymore [and] being on my own to be able to get clarity on whether or not this was for me."

Sartain — who was 29 at the time — added that it was "beneficial" for her that they didn't talk while they were apart as it allowed her to "get serious" about what she was looking for in a relationship.

"I considered what I really wanted out of this life that we had created together," she continued. "Obviously your brain's gonna tell you, 'Go back, go back, go back,' even if it's not the right thing for you."

However, after that time apart, Sartain said they ended up getting back together sometime in November 2023. She later moved from Los Angeles to Milwaukee in 2024 to continue to support his career.

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"For me, it's worth it to be a part of the whole experience," she continued. "Watching someone that you love be so uniquely good at something to me is rare [and]  this is so inspiring to watch you do this. So for me, it's worth it to be a part of the whole experience."

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Sartain previously opened up about her breakup and why she got back together with Ross in a TikTok shared in February. In the video, she reiterated that "no contact is essential" when taking time apart from someone and that it helped her "figure out" who she was without Ross.

@paytonsartain

if your ex is tox*c or ab*sive, close your ears right now. #valentinesday#relationshipproblems#breakups

♬ original sound - Payton Sartain

"No contact really allowed me to get in touch with myself without any external noise," she explained. "I needed to take enough time for myself to realize I'll be happy if we get back together and I'll be happy if we don't."

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"Relationships are a choice," she continued. "I think choosing someone every single day regardless of how you feel or how your life is going at the moment is the most romantic thing. You can have all the love and attraction in the world to someone and still not be a great partner in times when life is a little bit tough for either of you. It's the choice to stay committed in those times that really — in my opinion — makes a relationship great."